the oral administration of metallic colloids, in particular colloidal silver protein, has been reported to have toxic effects (2 ). Despite this, dozens of companies sell metal colloids as nutritional supplements.Many metal colloids have been rebranded as "nano" compounds to further intensify the public's interest in their utility. Although clinical concern about the use of colloidal metallic compounds is longstanding, their effects on laboratory tests have not been investigated. These particles are of particular concern because their small size allows high oral bioavailability, accumulation within the blood, and excretion through the kidneys (5 ). We were interested to know whether metal colloids might cause interference in clinical chemistry tests of blood and urine.We tested 4 nutraceutical products: Mesogold, Mesosilver, Mesocopper, and Mesoplatinum [Purest Colloids, Inc.; daily recommended doses ranged from 50 to 150 g (4 )]. These were colloidal suspensions of nonionic metal with 1-to 10-nm diameter particles. The concentrations of copper, silver, platinum, and gold measured by National Medical Services, Inc. were 0.9, 21, 13, and 18 mg/L of each metal, respectively, whereas the manufacturer's stated concentrations were 10, 20, 10, and 10 mg/L, respectively.We tested the mesometals (undiluted and as 1:1 mixtures with saline or pooled serum) for interference in a range of automated assays on a Vitros ® Model 950 AT:

Background and Purpose-Helicobacter pylori and Chlamydia pneumoniae have been associated epidemiologically and pathogenetically with coronary atherosclerosis. However, population-based data on chronic infection and stroke are lacking. Therefore, we investigated the association of both bacterial pathogens and ischemic stroke subtypes in a population-based case-control study. Methods-Patients with first ischemic stroke in the population-based Erlangen Stroke Project were collected as cases.Neighborhood controls were drawn from the study population, matched for age, sex, and place of residence. IgG antibodies to H pylori were measured by enzyme immunoassay, and IgG antibodies to C pneumoniae were measured by microimmunofluorescence technique. Conditional logistic regression was used. Analyses were stratified for etiologic stroke subtypes according to Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) criteria. Results-A total of 145 case and 260 control subjects were included. Chronic H pylori infection was associated with a higher risk of stroke caused by small-artery occlusion (adjusted odds ratio, 3.31; 95% CI, 1.15 to 9.56) and a lower risk of cardioembolic stroke (adjusted odds ratio, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.06 to 0.71). Overall, elevated H pylori as well as elevated C pneumoniae antibodies were not associated with ischemic stroke. Conclusions-Our population-based study does not provide evidence of any strong association between the immune response to C pneumoniae as a marker of prior infection and ischemic stroke. Further studies are required to reveal the role of chronic H pylori infection as an independent risk factor for the subgroup small-artery occlusion.

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Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of total Tau and Tau phosphorylated at threonine (position 181 [pTau181]) were studied with ELISA in a group of carefully selected patients with a neurochemically supported diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD, n = 9; age range, 51-89 yr) and in a group of sex- and age-matched nondemented controls (n = 9; age range, 52-81 yr). The concentration of both biomarkers is increased significantly in the AD group (total Tau, p < 0.0008; pTau181, p < 0.008). A significant correlation between CSF concentrations of both biomarkers is observed (R = 0.897; p < 0.001). Neither total Tau nor pTau181 correlates with age or degree of memory impairment, and only a tendency is observed between the concentrations of total Tau and Abeta42 in the CSF. Our results further confirm a possible role of pTau181 as a diagnostic tool in AD. The current literature regarding the physiological and pathological role of phosphorylated Tau proteins is reviewed, as well as the role of these proteins as promising biomarkers in the diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders.